A major fire erupted in a furniture shop in Hyderabad's Nampally area, trapping five people inside a four-storey building. Rescue operations involving multiple agencies are underway amid traffic disruptions near the ongoing industrial exhibition. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area.
On Saturday evening, a fierce blaze broke out at Bacha Furniture Shop on the ground floor of a four-storey building in Hyderabad's bustling Nampally commercial district. The incident occurred around 5 pm, with flames rapidly spreading to the upper floors and burning intensely for hours.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjannar stated, “The local police, along with disaster response teams are engaged in rescue operations. Traffic movement in the area has been severely disrupted.” The building's proximity to the Exhibition Grounds, site of the annual All India Industrial Exhibition known as Numaish, complicated the response due to crowds.
Firefighters deployed 25 fire engines, along with teams from the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force. They utilized hydraulic platforms, robotic devices, and a robotic viewfinder to search for trapped individuals. A fire department official noted, “We have sent in a robotic viewfinder to look for people inside. So far, we have not got any results.”
Five people are feared trapped: Baby (44), Syed Habeeb (40), Imtiaz (26), Praneeth (11), and Akhil (7). Most residents evacuated promptly, but thick smoke and high flames hindered efforts. Sajjannar oversaw operations on-site, directing swift fire control and safety measures, including evacuation of nearby areas.
Ambulances stand ready for medical aid, and hazardous materials are being cleared to prevent spread. The commissioner advised postponing visits to the exhibition to avoid inconvenience, as fear grips local residents amid rising flames and smoke.
